JPH0748390B2 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to electrical connectors,
In particular, the present invention relates to an electrical connector that holds a flat conductor cable.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is well known, various electrical connectors are used to make electrical connections with conductor cables. Examples of this type of electrical connector include:
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-17585, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-1617.
The ones proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 69 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 54-44517 are known.

The electrical connector has various characteristics in detail structure, but when it comes to the structure for sandwiching the conductor cable, the electrical connector is largely classified into a rotary type and a sliding type. Be separated.

[0004]

By the way, this type of electrical connector is used for a flat cable. And, when inserting the conductor cable into the electrical connector, it is desired that the insertion force is zero.

Further, since electric devices have been miniaturized recently, it is strongly demanded to make them extremely compact. Further, although dust or dust may be attached to the surface of the conductor cable, electrical connection failure may occur due to the dust or dust attached to the surface. Therefore, it is necessary to remove as much dust and dirt as possible when connecting.

In order to satisfy such requirements, there has been proposed an electric connector in which a portion to be electrically connected is brought into contact with the conductor cable while wiping the surface of the conductor cable at the time of connection. Advantageously, such wiping results in the contact surface being polished, resulting in the removal of inclusions on the surface. As described above, the wiping is suitable for the electric connector in which the cover member is rotated.

However, since the rotary type electrical connector has a very complicated structure, it is difficult to make it compact. On the other hand, in the case of a sliding type electrical connector, the structure is simple and compact, but there is a problem that the wiping action for removing inclusions on the surface of the conductor cable is not sufficient.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention makes it possible to insert a conductor cable with zero insertion force and to allow good wiping of its contact surface when holding the conductor cable. To aim.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following means. That is, to explain using the symbols used in the embodiments, the electrical connector of the present invention includes a connector block 14 having a flat contact surface 30 facing the conductor cable 32 inserted through the opening 16, and the connector block 14 described above. When it is arranged so as to be able to move forward and backward with respect to the connector block 14, the opening 16 is formed between the connector block 14 and the connector block 14, and the forward movement approaches the connector block 14 side. When in the position, the cover member 12 holds the conductor cable 32 inserted through the opening 16 in cooperation with the connector block 14, and at one end of the cover member 12, the connector member 14 faces the connector block 14. And a pressing portion 34a formed in this manner The pressing member 34b is fixed to the connector block 14 so as to face the pressing portion 34b formed on one end surface of the cover member 12 so as to be orthogonal to the pressing portion 34a and the contact surface 30. A substantially central portion facing the contact surface 30 is bent in a dogleg shape to form a ridge contact portion 54, and a tip portion 52 is formed on the cover member 12 with the pressing portion 34a and the pushing portion. 34b, and a plurality of pressing protrusions 26 provided on the cover member 12 facing the connector block 14 side.
And a plurality of holding recesses 60 provided on the connector block 14 at positions corresponding to the plurality of pressing protrusions 26, the cover member 12 is moved from the retracted position to the advanced position. This allows the conductor cable 32 inserted through the opening 16 when the cover member 12 is in the retracted position.
Is pushed into the plurality of holding recesses 60 by the plurality of pressing protrusions 26 to push the conductor cable 32.
And to press the tip portion 52 of the electric contact member 36 by the corner portion of the pressing portion 34a and the pushing portion 34b when the cover member 12 moves from the retracted position to the advanced position. Thus, the ridge contact portion 54 contacts the conductor cable 32 while wiping the surface thereof.

[0010]

Since the electric connector of the present invention has the above technical means, when the cover member 12 is in the retracted position, the cover member 12 and the connector block 1 are provided.
Since the opening 16 is formed between the opening 1 and the opening 4,
Plugging the conductor cable 32 through 6 allows the conductor cable 32 to be plugged into the electrical connector with zero insertion force.

After inserting the conductor cable 32 into the electric connector as described above, the connector block 14 is moved from the retracted position to the advanced position so that the conductor cable 32 is pushed into the plurality of pressing protrusions 26. Therefore, the plurality of holding recesses 60
It becomes possible to push it in and hold it well.

Further, when the cover member 12 moves from the retracted position to the advanced position, the tip end 52 of the electric contact member 36 is fixed to the cover member 12.
By being pressed by the corners of the pressing portion 34a and the pressing portion 34b formed above, the ridge contact portion 54 abuts the conductor cable 32 while wiping the surface of the conductor cable 32. Thus, the dust and the like on the surface of the conductor cable 32 are satisfactorily removed.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the electrical connector of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrical connector 10 of the present embodiment is provided with an opening 16 for receiving the end of the flat conductor cable 32. The opening 16
Is formed between the connector block 14 and the cover member 12.

Also, as better shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the latch, designated by the numeral 18, is formed integrally with the block 14 so as to be paired with the male connector. The electric connector 10 of the present embodiment is configured so that the insertion force when inserting the flat conductor cable into the opening 16 becomes zero.
In order to achieve this purpose, the connector block 1
4 and the cover member 12 have means on each opposite side of it, referred to as two-stage locking means 20.

Each locking means 20 has a pair of cam lock tabs 22 projecting outward from the respective side surfaces of the cover member 12. The connector block 14 also has a pair of complementary formed internal recesses 24 on its inside to receive one or both of the cam lock tabs 22.

The inner (upper side when viewed in the drawing) edge of the cam lock tab 22 is angled so as to extend the wall of the connector block 14 so that the tab snaps into the recess 24. Or chamfered. For this purpose, a connector block 1
Both 4 and the cover member are integrally molded of plastic material.

In the structure described above, the first (upper in the drawing) cam lock tab 22 on the opposite side of the cover member 12 in FIG. 1 snaps into the first (or lower) recess 24 in the connector block 14. Is inserted.

Further, in order to hold the conductor cable 32 in the cover member 12 and the connector block 14, it is shown in the direction of the connector block 14 until it is locked in the recess 24, or by the arrow "A" in the figure. So that they are moved relative to each other.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a plurality of pressing protrusions 26 provided in the opening 16 into which the conductor cable 32 is inserted or along the direction orthogonal to the direction in which the conductor cable 32 is inserted. ing.

FIG. 3 illustrates a row or series of openings 28 for simply receiving the male contacts of the supplementary male connector.
2 shows the paired ends of the electrical connector 10 opposite the insertion end of FIG. In other words, although the connector 10 shown and described herein comprises a female connector, the electrical connector characteristics of this embodiment are applicable and useful for equally mating male connectors. is there. The difference lies solely in the structure of the mating ends of the contacts, as will be explained below.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the interior of electrical connector 10 is shown to exhibit novel contact wiping and restrained release characteristics. 4 shows the connector block 14 and the cover member 12 in their relative load position corresponding to FIG.
2 shows the connector block 14 and the cover member 12 in their corresponding locked position corresponding to FIG.

The connector block 14 has a flat contact surface 3 against which the conductor cable 32 can contact.
Has 0. Further, the cover member 12 has the pressing portion 34a and the pressing portion pressing portion 34 on the inner side thereof.
b.

The electrical contact member designated by reference numeral 36 is composed of a member having elasticity and is fixedly disposed in the connector block 14.
In the electrical connector of this embodiment, one electrical contact member 36 is provided for each opening 28 (Fig. 3).

For this purpose, opposing spring beams 38 are provided just inside the respective openings 28, between which the respective male contact plugs are inserted. The entire electric contact member 36 has a stamping molding structure.

Each electric contact member 36 is fixed to the connector block 14 by engaging with the opposite side of the inner boss 40 of the connector block 14. This electrical contact member 36 is located inside the connector block 14 from the right side in the drawing, ie in the direction of arrow “B” in FIG. 4, until the stop device 42 on the electrical contact member 36 engages with the right hand side of the boss 40. It is inserted into and assembled.

At this position, the elastic spring tongue 44 inclined inward by the boss 40 is
It snaps into the retreat portion 46 against the opposite side of. To that end, the electrical contact member 36 is rigidly secured within the connector block 14 against movement in either longitudinal direction. Also, this electrical contact member 36 will eventually match the size and shape of the internal bore 48 of the connector block 14 at its mating ends to prevent any lateral movement.

The end of each electric contact member 36, which opposes the paired end 38, is formed as a leaf spring type structure. In particular, the electrical contact member 36 has a free end 50 with a curvilinear end portion 52. The free end portion 50 is bent in a dogleg shape, and a ridge contact portion 54 is formed at a substantially central portion thereof.

Further, the intermediate spring portion 56 is formed on the root side of the ridge contact portion 54. To that end, the ridge contact portion 54 is juxtaposed with the abutment surface 30 inside the connector block 14 and the free end portion 50 is provided.
The end portion 52 of the
4a and a pushing portion 34b.

At the position shown in FIG. 4, there is a predetermined gap between the ridge contact portion 54 and the contact surface 30.
As a result, the conductor cable 32 is inserted through the opening 16 with a zero insertion force, and the ridge contact portion 54 and the contact surface 30 are inserted.
Will be able to be inserted between and.

Further, the window 57 for visual observation covers the conductor cable 32 in order to ensure that the conductor cable 32 is in a proper relationship with the ridge contact portion 54 formed on the electric contact member 36. Formed within member 12.

In such a configuration, when the conductor cable 32 is inserted into the connector 10 with the connector block 14 and cover member 12 in their relative positions, the position of the conductor 32 is
Visually confirmed through window 57. Also, when in proper alignment with the ridge contact portion 54, the cover member 12 utilizes the cam lock tabs 22 and recesses 24, as described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2.
It is forced in the direction of arrow "A" (FIG. 5) until it locks into the connector block 14.

This locked position is shown in FIG. 5, with the cover member 12 engaging the contact surface 3 of the connector block 14.
It is fixed to the connector block 14 so as to face the entire surface of 0 in parallel.

During the rocking motion, the cover member 1
The end portion 52 of the electrical contact member 36 is pressed by the corners of the pressing portion 34a and the pressing portion 34b on the inner side of the second member 2. In other words, the pressing portion 34a causes the end portion 52 to be inclined with respect to the contact surface 30 in the connector block 14 direction,
Also, the push-in portion 34b moves laterally of the end portion 52,
That is, the stopping means for preventing the movement of the electric contact member 36 in the longitudinal direction or in the right direction in the drawing is formed.

The ridge contact part 54 moves to the surface of the conductor cable 32 while the tip of the electric contact member 36 is restrained against the movement at that time, and the conductor cable 32 contacts the contact surface 30. Press down. Also,
The ridge contact portion 54 slides inward or to the left in the drawing and performs a wiping action against the conductor in order to remove any inclusions adhering to the surface of the conductor cable 32.

The "wipe" action of electrical contact member 36 is represented by the distance indicated by arrow "C" in FIG. In this embodiment, the curing rib 5 is integrated with the connector block 14 in order to make a good connection between the ridge contact portion 54 and the conductor cable 32.
9 is molded.

The curing rib 59 is formed on the electric contact member 3 by
It engages with the free end 50 of 6 and has the function of preventing the free end 50 from bending. Cover member 12
The closing force exerted by it is directed linearly along the free ends of the electrical contact members 36, causing the ridge contacts 54 to wipe the conductor cable 32 with considerable force.

Due to the form of the electrical contact member 36,
Not only is a wiping action performed on the conductor cable 32, but a strong spring force is applied to the conductor cable 32 to maintain a secure connection between the electrical contact member 36 and the conductor cable 32. This large spring force is achieved by the combination of the acute angle of the free end 50 and the opposing spring force of the intermediate portion 56 of the electrical contact member 36 structure.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the free end 50 of the electrical contact member 36 is at an acute angle and in the direction of movement of the cover member 12, that is, the abutment surface 30 and the conductor cable 32. It is achieved by extending in the direction.

As is clear from FIG. 5, when the connector is locked, a strong tilting force that presses the conductor cable 32 is maintained. in addition,
The intermediate spring portion 56 of the electric contact member 36 supplies a reaction force that drives the ridge contact portion 54 against the conductor cable 32 on the opposite side surface of the ridge contact portion 54.

This can be seen by comparing FIG. 4 with FIG. 5, in which the intermediate part 56 is considerably bent in the locked state of the connector. As a result, a reliable contact state is maintained between the ridge contact portion 54 and the conductor cable 32.

The pressing projection 26, which has been briefly described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, is formed on the cover member 12 at a position corresponding to the holding recess 60 formed in the connector block 14. When the cover member 12 is moved in the locking direction, the pressing protrusion 26 holds the conductor cable 32 in the holding recess 60.
Forcibly push it into the conductor cable 32
Is firmly held between the cover member 12 and the connector block 14.

It should be noted that somewhere between the pressing projection 26 and the ridge contact portion 54, the insulating coating or coating is removed, and the ridge contact portion 54 is a bare conductor cable 3
2, and the pressing projection 26 is adapted to mesh with the plastic clad conductor cable 32.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the cover member 12 is in the retracted position, the cover member 12 is
Since the opening 16 for inserting the conductor cable 32 is formed between the connector block 14 and the connector block 14,
The conductor cable 32 can be plugged into the electrical connector with zero insertion force.

After inserting the conductor cable 32 into the electric connector as described above, the conductor block 32 is moved by the plurality of pressing projections 26 by moving the connector block 14 from the retracted position to the advanced position. Therefore, the conductor cables 32 can be satisfactorily clamped because they can be pushed into the plurality of clamping recesses 60.

Further, when the cover member 12 moves from the retracted position to the advanced position, the corners of the pressing portion 34a and the pushing portion 34b formed on the cover member 12 cause the electrical contact member to move. Since the tip portion 52 of the wire 36 is pressed, the ridge contact portion 54 wipes the surface of the conductor cable 32 while the ridge contact portion 54 is pressed against the conductor cable 3.
The conductor cable 32 can be brought into contact with the surface of the conductor cable 32, and dust, dirt, etc. on the surface of the conductor cable 32 can be removed well.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of an insertion end portion of an electric connector.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a cover fixed to a connector block and in a locked position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an end portion of the connector.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view of FIG.

5 is a vertical side view in the locked position of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Electric Connector 12 Cover Member 14 Connector Block 16 Opening 20 Locking Means 22 Cam Lock Tab 24 Recess 26 Pressing Protrusion 28 Opening 30 Contact Surface 32 Conductor Cable 34a Pressing 34b Pushing In 36 Electric Contact Member 60 Clamping Recess 52 End 54 Ridge contact part

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A connector block (14) having a flat contact surface (30) facing a conductor cable (32) inserted through an opening (16), and a connector block (14) movably arranged with respect to the connector block (14). In the retracted position away from the connector block 14, the opening 16 is formed between the connector block 14 and the conductor block 32 inserted through the opening 16 in the advanced position approaching the connector block 14 side. A cover member 12 for sandwiching the connector block 14 in cooperation with the connector block 14, and a pressing portion 3 formed at one end of the cover member 12 so as to face the connector block 14.
4a and a pushing portion 34b formed on one end surface of the cover member 12 so as to be orthogonal to the pushing portion 34a.
Is fixed to the connector block 14 so as to face the position facing the contact surface 30, and the contact surface 3
The substantially central portion facing 0 is bent in a dogleg shape to form a ridge contact portion 54, and the tip portion 52 is formed on the cover member 12 so as to have the pressing portion 34.
On the connector block 14, the electric contact members 36 extending to the corners of a and the pushing portion 34b, the plurality of pressing projections 26 provided on the cover member 12 facing the connector block 14 side. And a plurality of holding recesses 60 provided at positions corresponding to the plurality of pressing protrusions 26, and by moving the cover member 12 from the retracted position to the advanced position, the cover member 12 is The conductor cable 32 inserted through the opening 16 in the retracted position is pushed into the plurality of holding recesses 60 by the plurality of pressing projections 26 to hold the conductor cable 32, and the cover member is also provided. When the 12 moves from the retracted position to the advanced position, the pressing portion 34a and the pressing portion 34a are pushed. Stitching part 3
By pressing the tip portion 52 of the electric contact member 36 at the corner with 4b, the ridge contact portion 54 abuts the conductor cable 32 while wiping its surface. Electrical connector.